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Journal article

Fostering student climate agency and future literacy: a case study of scenario-based teaching

Abstract:

Background: The 21st century has been characterised by fast-paced global societal, scientific and technological challenges. As such, future citizens should be adequately equipped with necessary skills to navigate the high degree of uncertainty that they entail.

Purposes: Utilising the affordances of learning in informal spaces, this study explores the use of a scenario-based teaching approach to facilitate students’ agency towards climate change.

Sample: Twenty-four (n = 24) secondary school students (Year 12) took part in the study.

Design and methods: A teaching session focusing on possible positive, as well as troubled climate change scenarios, was designed and delivered in a Museum of Natural History in England. Students responded to a paper-pencil questionnaire before and after the teaching session to examine potential gains in their feeling of agency, futures literacy and epistemic emotions.

Results: Results indicated a positive effect on students’ climate agency, as well as a significant improvement of students’ perceived futures literacy. Moreover, students reported that they felt ‘motivated’ and ‘hopeful’ during the session.

Conclusion: The findings of the study highlight the pedagogical value of scenario-based teaching as a strategy that can support student agency and confidence in dealing with uncertainties. As a result, it offers valuable insights on effective teaching strategies aiming at students’ empowerment towards the complex challenges of the future.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1080/02635143.2025.2533182

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
Education
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-3736-0339
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
Education
Oxford college:
St Cross College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5226-0136


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
Grant:
872841
More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03thb3e06


Publisher:
Taylor & Francis
Journal:
Research in Science and Technological Education More from this journal
Volume:
44
Issue:
2
Pages:
490-509
Publication date:
2025-07-24
DOI:
EISSN:
1470-1138
ISSN:
0263-5143


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2251573
Local pid:
pubs:2251573
Deposit date:
2025-08-21
ARK identifier:

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